Who Owns DC Shoes?

DC Shoes was founded in 1994 by Ken Block, Damon Way, and Clayton Blehm in Carlsbad, California, initially focusing on producing skateboarding shoes with innovative designs and construction. The company quickly gained recognition in the skateboarding community for its durable, performance-oriented footwear. This founding vision demonstrated exceptional insight into the growing demand for specialized skateboarding solutions while establishing a distinctive approach that would define the action sports footwear category for generations.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, DC Shoes expanded beyond skateboarding into snowboarding footwear and apparel, establishing itself as a major player in action sports. This period of expansion demonstrated DC Shoes' exceptional ability to scale operations while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards that would define the brand for decades. The company's products became popular among professional athletes and enthusiasts in both skateboarding and snowboarding communities, creating a competitive advantage in the action sports market.

In 2004, Quiksilver acquired DC Shoes for approximately $87 million, bringing the brand under corporate ownership while maintaining its focus on action sports culture. This strategic acquisition demonstrated DC Shoes' exceptional ability to integrate into larger action sports corporations while maintaining its core brand identity and cultural significance in the skateboarding industry. Under Quiksilver's ownership, DC Shoes continued to grow and expand its product lines and global reach. This period of expansion demonstrated DC Shoes' exceptional ability to serve multiple action sports segments while maintaining its core brand identity and market leadership.

In April 2023, Authentic Brands Group acquired Boardriders, the parent company of Quiksilver and DC Shoes, for approximately $1.25 billion. This acquisition marked another significant ownership transition for DC Shoes and brought the brand into ABG's extensive portfolio of over 50 consumer brands. In January 2024, ABG announced a strategic partnership with BBC International for DC Shoes, where BBC would take on global design, manufacturing, and wholesale distribution responsibilities for the brand's footwear across North America.

This partnership reflected ABG's asset-light business model focused on brand development and licensing rather than direct operations. Seth Campbell, Corporate President at BBC International, emphasized the opportunity to "tap into a new audience, introduce new innovations, and uphold the brand's strong DNA and heritage." Despite facing challenges in the broader skateboarding market, including decreased brand relevance among younger consumers and shifts toward athleisure footwear, DC Shoes has reportedly shown strong growth within the ABG portfolio.

Under Authentic Brands Group ownership, DC Shoes has maintained its headquarters in Huntington Beach, California, while benefiting from ABG's expertise in brand revitalization, global licensing partnerships, and strategic management. The brand continues to balance its authentic skateboarding heritage with broader lifestyle appeal, adapting to changing consumer preferences while preserving its core identity in the action sports community.